6th Annual Snow Goose Festival, Jan. 28-30, 2005:
Biographies of Leaders and Presenters

Keynote Speaker

Robert McLandress began work with California Waterfowl Association as their first biologist (and 4th employee) in 1985. He has been employed as President of CWA since 1998. In 2004, he was directing more than 45 employees and a diversity of programmatic areas including habitat restoration, research, education, public policy and fund-raising. His vast knowledge of the ecology of wetlands and waterfowl ranges from the Arctic to Mexico. Bob has served as a member and/or chair of numerous committees dealing with waterfowl and wetland ecology in California, and as a lecturer in the Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology at UC Davis. He served as Chair of the Dean's Advisory Council from 1998 to 2002. A prolific writer, especially for CWA's bimonthly magazine, he has also authored dozens of scientific journal papers and technical reports on a broad range of waterfowl and wetland topics. Recently, Bob has rekindled an old interest in wildlife photography and several of his ddonated images are being used to raise funds at CWA Fundraising events.

All Other Speakers (in last name order)

Linda Angerer is a U.S. Forest Service Wildlife Biologist and currently the Bat Coordinator for California's National Forests.

Skip Augur is editor of the White-Tailed Kite, the local Altacal Audubon Society's newsletter. He also serves as their publicity director.

Albin Bills is a field biology instructor and Butte College Wildlife Area Faculty Advisor for over twenty-five years.

Jay Bogiatto is Station Manager at CSU Chico's Eagle Lake Field Station, Director of the Biology Department's Vertebrate Museum and teaches ornithology, waterfowl biology and zoology at CSU Chico.

Keith Book is an avid farm and wildlife enthusiast. He is an owner and operator of the Book Family Farm in Chico.

Steve Brightwell is Assistant Manager at the California Department of Fish and Game Feather River Fish Hatchery.

Rex Burress, a long time naturalist, wildlife artist, outdoor photographer and nature writer is retired from the Lake Merritt Refuge in Oakland.

Bill Burrows is a Rancher, Certified Educator for Holistic Management, Coordinator for Sunflower Coordinated Resource Management Plan (CRMP). California ranching has been a "way of life" for the Burrows' family since 1848.

Roger Calloway is a Landscape Architect who worked for the State Parks for 30 plus years until his retirement Dec. 31, 2004. He is now back on the books as a part time Retired Annuitant working for Parks on special projects. He was instrumental in acquiring Peace Valley for State Parks and is very familiar with the history and natural and cultural landscapes of the Buttes.

Jim Chakarun is Habitat Supervisor for the Department of Fish and Game's Tehama Wildlife Area.

David Dahnke has been a birding enthusiast for over twenty years. He has sighted over 450 species of birds.

Tim Davis has worked as a California State Park ranger for several years and his current assignment is at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park in Chico.

Tyler Dawley of Big Bluff Ranch grew up on the family ranch where it was understood that the health of the landscape directly affects the health of humans. Big Bluff Ranch's grass-fed meat is the translation of a healthy landscape into healthy food.

Mary Ann Deeming works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She has been a Park Ranger at Black Butte Lake for over twenty years.

Jim Dempsey works in resource management for California State Parks and is an active member of the California Native Plant Society.

Wes Dempsey is an Emeritus Professor of Biology at California State University Chico. Wes has led hikes in the area for many years.

Michael Denega is a dynamic biology instructor at Folsom Lake College and the Independent Learning Center. Mike has spent considerable time as a researcher and wildlife photographer in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with the Federal Migratory Bird Program.

Dan Efseaff is a Restoration Ecologist for River Partners whose main focus is on the implementation of river conservation projects.

Steve Emmons is an Assistant Refuge Manager for the Sacramento and Delevan National Wildlife Refuges (Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Willows, CA) since 1996.

Dave Garcia has worked as a State Park Ranger at Lake Oroville for twenty years. Dave enjoys the outdoors and birding as both a vocation and a hobby.

Gaylord Grams is an avid local birder and member of the Altacal Chapter of the Audubon Society.

Herman Gray is a retired physician. While traveling the world in his profession, he has enjoyed viewing many bird species. He is also an active Gray Lodge Wildlife Area docent.

John Grow, local birder, is actively involved in the Oroville Wildlife Area Wood Duck Program. John also conducts interpretive programs for the State Parks at Lake Oroville.

Bob Guzman serves on the Snow Goose Festival Steering Committee and is actively involved in the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area Wood Duck Program.

Victor Herrick is a State Park Ranger at Lake Oroville. He enjoys Natural History, including birding, angling, hunting, herpetology etc.

Leroy Hord, local birder, is actively involved in the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area Wood Duck Program.

Mike Hubbartt is a Middle Mountain Foundation board member actively involved in the preservation of the integrity of the Sutter Buttes for over twenty-three years.

Ben Hughes is a Shasta College history instructor and member of the Sacramento River Discovery Center Board of Directors.

Phil Johnson is a local Altacal Audubon Society member and coordinator of both the Oroville and Chico Christmas Bird Counts.

Brian Kenny of Pacific Sun Olive Oil spent years searching for a way to enter into agriculture in a manner that both honored the land and the producers. His outstanding olive oil celebrates the land and producers and in turn has been honored with a Silver Medal at the Los Angeles County Fair.

Shelly Kirn is a dynamic instructor of field biology and zoology at California State University, Chico.

Randy Landis has been a practicing falconer for 30 years. He has been involved in raptor breeding, rehabilitation and conservation.

Roger Lederer is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at CSUC. Dr. Lederer has taught ornithology and ecology courses, worked with environmental organizations and schools. Ornithology, the science of birds, is his specialty.

Jessica Lundberg is the manager of the seed nursery for specialty varieties and an owner and operator of Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, CA. The family rice operation produces healthy, high quality, organic and sustainable rice products, which are grown in harmony with nature.

Rick McGaugh has worked as a California state park ranger for thirty years, twenty of which have been spent as the unit ranger for Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park in Chico. In addition to his professional affinity for the outdoors, Rick is an accomplished photographer and design artist.

Gary Norcross is the Orchard Manager of the U.S. Forest Service Genetic Resource Center since 1975.

Brett Ochs is the assistant manager for The Nature Conservancy's 37,540 acre Dye Creek Preserve. He is an outdoorsman that has quite the interesting educational background. Ask him when you take the hike this year.

Randy Palmer is Chico Creek Nature Center's naturalist and bird enthusiast. He teaches environmental education programs at Bidwell Park for K-6 students.

Tim Pedrozo of Pedrozo Dairy has spent years in the dairy business. He left large scale dairying in favor of a small family run, grass based dairy. Along with milk, he and his family produce a variety of grass-fed cheeses.

Harlin Perryman is an avid birder and has traveled all around the country and the world birding. He has been an Audubon member since 1998.

Jackson Shedd is an avid birder and President of the Altacal Audubon Society. Jackson is also a local wildlife artist.

Joe Silveira is a Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1990 and is currently stationed at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Marty Steidlemayer is a Sutter Buttes landowner and rancher. Marty has an intimate knowledge of the Sutter Buttes landscapes.

Scott Toricelli is an environmental educator for over twenty-five years. He currently teaches for the Chico Unified School District.

David Vanicek has a BS and MS in Fish and Wildlife Biology and his Ph.D. in Wildlife Resources. He taught 35 years at CSU, Sacramento. He retired in 2002 and now resides in Paradise.

Andy Wahl is a Master falconer for thirteen years. Andy currently teaches biology at Chico Junior High.

Kelly Williams is a Natural Resource Specialist for the Bureau of Land Management. Kelly has been in the North Valley area for over twenty years.

Dawit Zeleke is a Project Director for the North Central Valley of The Nature Conservancy. He directs the Sacramento River Project and the Lassen Foothills Project.